Roofing works on market get public thumbs-up
With roof over the market, business would also not be affected that much during rainy days.
Zaidil Arip
SIBU: Sibu Municipal Council (SMC)’s plan to build a roof over Taman Indah Pasar Tamu at Indah Road here is very welcoming news. Zaidil Arip, who is chairman of the village security and development committee (JKKK) of Kampung Bahagia Jaya Phase I in Teku, said both traders and customers would appreciate this amenity very much. “With a roof over the market, the businesses would also not be affected much during rainy days,” he told The Borneo Post here. At the same time, Zaidil hoped that all traders would maintain high level of cleanliness amidst the current Covid-19 situation, and also for strays to be kept away from the market. Expressing similar sentiments, Aminah Seman was all thumbsup for the plan. “With roofing, the traders would be able to trade in comfort – being shaded from the hot sun, or not getting soaked during rain. “Food on sale would also stay fresh longer,” said this single mother from Kampung Bahagia Jaya Teku. On July 2, SMC Market and Petty Traders standing committee chairman Councillor Albert Tiang had announced that the construction of the roof over Taman Indah Pasar Tamu would be carried out in phases. “We estimated two months to come up with a design. If successful, we would endorse this project during the full council meeting in August. “Then, we would go for tender – usually it is one month. Most likely, we would commence the project in October the earliest, and I think in November, we could start to trade. “However, this is subject to contractor’s readiness,” he told reporters during a recent visit to the project site at Taman Indah Pasar Tamu. Tiang said based on the site visit, his side could estimate the areas involved, the number of traders to be accommodated and other planning. He believed that under Phase I, the roofing should be able to accommodate 30 traders per day, with the 2.5m social distancing in place. “Once the ‘Pasar Tamu’ opens, we would start with weekend trading first. “If the response is overwhelming, then we would proceed with Phase II. We do not want to do it all at one go, in case the response is not good,” Tiang pointed out.